Chapter 27 - The Cracks Deepen

Minho had never been an overthinker. He liked things simple. Straightforward. No emotional baggage, no unnecessary feelings. That's why he never had problems in relationships before. He had Seungmin. He had his friends. He had his life figured out.

But lately, everything was... off.

And it was all because of Hyunjin.

Hyunjin, who smiled like he hadn't been through hell.

Hyunjin, who still greeted Minho with a soft "Good morning" even after getting nothing but coldness in return.

Hyunjin, who moved through life with an unbearable kindness, making it impossible to completely hate him.

Minho wanted to hate him. He really did.

But lately, he found himself watching him more than he should.

And today was no different.

--

They had arrived at school separately, like usual. Minho was with Jeongin and Jisung, while Hyunjin walked alone, holding his books against his chest, lost in his own world.

It shouldn't have bothered Minho.

But it did.

Jisung, who had been keeping an eye on Hyunjin ever since their confrontation, immediately broke off from their group and caught up to him.

"Hyunjinnie!" Jisung grinned, throwing an arm around his shoulders like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Did you eat breakfast? You look like you didn't."

Hyunjin chuckled softly. "I did, don't worry."

Minho rolled his eyes. "Do you have to cling to him like that?"

Jisung raised a brow. "Why? You jealous?"

Minho scoffed. "Why the hell would I be jealous?"

Jisung smirked. "Good question. Why would you?"

Minho hated Jisung.

--

Classes were uneventful—at least, they should have been.

But Minho couldn't focus.

Because every time he looked up, he saw Jisung hovering around Hyunjin, poking his cheek, ruffling his hair, making him laugh.

Hyunjin's laugh was soft, light, and real.

It was different from the forced smiles he always gave Minho.

And for some stupid reason, that bothered him.

Jisung was too close. He was too comfortable.

And Minho hated it.

He didn't know why.

But he did.

--

During lunch, Minho had planned to eat with Jeongin and Seungmin, as usual.

But his eyes kept straying toward Hyunjin.

Chan, Changbin, and Felix had pulled him into their circle, and they were fussing over him like he was some delicate thing that needed to be protected.

It was infuriating.

Especially when Felix leaned forward, poked Hyunjin's cheek, and teased, "You're too cute for your own good."

Hyunjin laughed, covering his face with his hands.

And Minho clenched his fists.

"Are you even listening?" Seungmin's voice snapped him out of his daze.

Minho blinked. "What?"

Seungmin sighed. "I've been talking about our plans for the weekend. You zoned out."

"I was listening," Minho lied, stabbing his food with his chopsticks.

Jeongin smirked. "No, you weren't. You were too busy staring at your husband."

Seungmin's expression darkened.

Minho glared. "I wasn't staring."

Jeongin hummed. "Right. And I'm the president of Korea."

Minho kicked him under the table.

--

After school, Minho was walking toward the parking lot when he heard laughter.

Hyunjin and Jisung.

Again.

They were standing by the vending machines, sharing a bag of chips, looking entirely too comfortable.

Minho had no reason to care.

But he did.

And when Jisung reached out and flicked a stray eyelash from Hyunjin's cheek, something inside Minho snapped.

Before he even realized what he was doing, he had walked over.

"What's taking you so long?" he asked, voice sharp.

Hyunjin looked up in surprise. "Minho?"

"We need to go," Minho said, grabbing his wrist.

Hyunjin frowned. "I was just—"

"Now."

Hyunjin hesitated, but in the end, he nodded.

Minho didn't look at Jisung.

Because he didn't want to see that damn knowing smirk on his face.

--

That night, as Minho lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, he replayed the events of the day in his head.

Jisung was getting too close.

Hyunjin was laughing too easily.

And Minho...

Minho was losing his mind.

But the worst part?

He still didn't know why.